plumber_greg":1dnb46bv said:MF135":1dnb46bv said:Aaron":1dnb46bv said:I agree. Keep the heifer. There are apparently heifers out there that can't even have a 90 lb calf without problems. Those are the ones that need to go. One of my friends used to calve 130-160 lb calves regularly out of Simmental cows.
wow 160lbs calves. I can't imagine a calf that size. I don't think its unreasonable for a heifer to need assistance with a 90lb calf. There are a lot of grown 1200lb cows that will have problems with a calf that size. how big are these simmental cows?
I've never heard that before, do you think 90 lb. is big? Most of my angus cross cows are in the 12-1400lb. range. I want them to have 80-90 lb. calves. My heifers will usually have them no problem, in fact out of the 10 I keep every year, it's been 3-4 years since I helped one, maybe more. My "heifer" bull is a plus 5 on BW. In my opinion, I don't like small BW bulls, calving ease doesn't always mean they gotta' have runts. I thought you had a bunch of brangus, with a Blonde bull. Surley you see 90lb. calves. gs
Yes I do think 90lb is a big calf. I would think that that 90lbs is over all breed averages and even 10-15lbs over some. None of my brangus x blonde calves were 90lbs. Think the biggest was 84lbs. I didn't have the EPDs on the bull but actual bw was 81lbs. I'll give up a lot of lbs to not have to check cows in the middle of the night. 70lbs and alive sure beats a 120lb calf and a dead cow.